617 Squadron, Lancasters, and Tallboys

[steveh11Matrix]

I recall from Paul Brickhill's book The Dambusters and confirm from elsewhere (such as http://www.dambusters.org.uk/tiger.htm) that at the end of the war in Europe RAF Bomber Command was to set up a force, to be attached to 20th Air Force, called "Tiger Force". The plan was to take 20 squadrons of 'heavies' in all. To be included i this were 617 and 9 Squadron, both flying Lancasters, and dropping (generally) the 12,000 lb "Tallboy" bomb.

The extreme accuracy of the crews, the equipment and the bomb itself have been testified to many times, as has the extreme destructive effect. (No more 1000il bombs bouncing off deck armour!)

In the event, of course, Enola Gay dropped an even more devastating bomb. But in this game we can play well into 1946, so I thought, why not think about modelling 617 Squadron?

A Lancaster is easy enough, although I'd make it's durability quite low, to simulate the long straight run-in necessary to drop these weapons. I don't know how to model the fact that they should be dropped from approx 20,000 feet - any ideas?

The bomb, however, is a different thing. I'm inclined to make it a PGM, but with relatively low accuracy. CEP was about 50 feet or so in good weather. Anyone know how poor wether affects bombing in WitP? 12,000lb, all in one lump, with corresponding damage and penetration values - basically, if it hits a ship, it'll penetrate. Just ask the Captain of the Tirpitz. Or the Lutzow.

What do you guys think? 617's arrival would have been around September 1945. Peripheral, perhaps, but an interesting exercise, nevertheless. Also, why should it be left out of a game that goes well beyond the time of proposed deployment?

Finally, there were plans to fit some specially modified B29's with 2 Tallboys each, for deployment in 1946....

Then there's always the Grand Slam!

Steve.

[Ron Saueracker]

One has to be careful with any ot these late date ETO to PTO transfers. If I remember correctly, there was a risk of mutinous acts within the Canadian services over this in 1945. They were promised a discharge after Hitler was defeated then were notified about a transfer to the PTO with Japan's imminent surrender academic. Given the fact that many were in ETO for over five years, they deserved the discharge. Probably best to leave these out as how could this be done justice?

[steveh11Matrix]

Leave out the Canadian units, perhaps?

Dunno, as it's entirely a "What if". Down to the modder, I'd say.

Steve.

[DrewMatrix]

The father of a friend of mine (an American) landed in France on D-Day, made it to the German border by VE day, then was told (because he had so much combat experience) he would be trained for the amphibious invasion of Japan.

As you can imagine he was not happy with this prospect but he was going to do it. As you can also imagine he was delighted the war ended first.

[Belce]

My father joined the RAF in 39 and started flying overseas in 41, have to be 19 to fly overseas in the RAF then, and after German surrender was getting ready to transfer with his squadron to Burma when Japan surrendered. Had completed all his immunization shots as well by that time. Instead he got sent to Berlin and got a job as RAF liason to the French military governor's flight. So your mod should include more than just lancasters as his squadron was mosquito bombers.

In friendlier times, he attended a party hosted by the Russain military, the Germans have a great love for buildings with many steps and up those steps every so often was a big Russain guardsman who stopped him and offered a big toast of vodka, "Stalin, Roosevelt, Churchill", my dad took a fair drink from it and when it wasn't finished the Russian said "What, you no like toast?" filled the glass back up and repeated the toast. He learned what was expected and successfully completed the obstacle course to enter the building.